The CBB :: View topic

#1: Tom's Boys Author: Lulie, Location: Middlesbrough

Posted: Mon Jan 19, 2004 10:37 pm

Here's the link
http://members.lycos.co.uk/thecbb/Tomsboys.htm

And here's some new stuff.

‘Tom! You’re here at last!’ Bride threw her arms round her friend in a huge bear hug as soon as Tom had stepped off the train, which was late getting into the station. ‘It’s me,’ agreed Tom, stepping back from Bride’s embrace, ‘it’s good to see you, Bride, but less of the dramatics. We’ve the whole weekend together,’
‘Still the same old Tom,’ laughed Bride, ‘is this your case? Come on then, Rix and Pegs are outside with the car,’
The ride back to The Quadrant was uneventful. Bride and Tom chattered on about Bride’s university course and the Boy’s Club. Peggy joined in now and again and Rix, who tended towards silence by nature, drove. Tea was waiting when they arrived. The girls went and washed while Rix took Tom’s case to her room, refusing to allow Tom herself to do it. ‘But I can manage,’ Tom insisted, ‘ Just point me in the right direction,’
‘Rix will insist on treating you like a lady,’ said Bride, with a chuckle, ‘you may as well enjoy it while you’re here!’
Tom looked disgruntled for a moment, ‘Well I don’t look much like a lady,’ she muttered to herself, meekly allowing Peggy to show her to the cloakroom. Tea was usually a lively meal in the Bettany household, and today was no exception. Tom, who had missed the company of others since leaving school, enjoyed herself enormously. Bride, though, seemed strangely excited, though she tried to control herself. Tom could not work out why. It was more than her arrival, Tom thought, and even if it had been her, she was here now. Maeve too was in on whatever the secret was, as she kept looking sideways at Tom and grinning, only to be frowned at or kicked gently by Bride. Just as the meal was ending there was a ring at the doorbell. Bride and Maeve leapt up and tried to shoot out of the room, the effect being spoilt by their both trying to go through the door at the same time. Fortunately they made it without too much damage to the house, and dashed off down the passages. ‘Don’t you worry, Tom dear,’ said Mrs Bettany, ‘Bride and Maeve aren’t really as mad as they appear to be. I’ll go and refresh the teapot. Boys, if you want to leave the table, you may,’
The room emptied rapidly, leaving Peggy and Mr Bettany grinning at each other, and Tom looking utterly dumbfounded

Last edited by Lulie on Wed Jan 28, 2004 10:45 pm; edited 1 time in total

#2: Author: Sarah_K, Location: St Albans

Posted: Mon Jan 19, 2004 11:37 pm

Thank you Lulie, lovely new bit too. I love Tom having to let Rix treat her "like a lady" *giggles*
Now what is the Bettany girls' secret? Question

#3: Author: Lesley, Location: Rochester, Kent

Posted: Mon Jan 19, 2004 11:45 pm

Excellent - a new bit - love Tom being annoyed with Rix! What is the big secret? Who has come visiting? Don't keep us in suspense long Lulie Exclamation

#4: Author: KB, Location: Melbourne, Australia

Posted: Tue Jan 20, 2004 2:42 am

How lovely! And I want to know what the secret is, too!

#5: Author: Vikki, Location: Possibly in hell! It's certainly hot enough.......

Posted: Tue Jan 20, 2004 3:20 am

I'd like to know too please!! Confused

#6: Author: Abi, Location: Alton, Hants

Posted: Tue Jan 20, 2004 11:24 am

Yay! thank you Lulie - I liked the bit about Tom not liking being a 'lady' Laughing

#7: Author: Laura, Location: London (ish)

Posted: Tue Jan 20, 2004 6:15 pm

My only guess - may I guess?! - is that theyve invited oodles of people for a reunion!

But what is it? And who??! More please!

#8: Author: KB, Location: Melbourne, Australia

Posted: Tue Jan 20, 2004 10:18 pm

Come on, please tell us who's arrived!

#9: Author: PatMac, Location: Yorkshire England

Posted: Wed Jan 21, 2004 12:14 am

How long can it take to get to the front door and back? comeon, the tea will be getting cold!

#10: Author: Vikki, Location: Possibly in hell! It's certainly hot enough.......

Posted: Wed Jan 21, 2004 1:13 am

*waiting impatiently* Evil or Very Mad

#11: Author: KB, Location: Melbourne, Australia

Posted: Wed Jan 21, 2004 2:22 am

*raps fingers on the desk*

#12: Author: Tassie_Ellen, Location: Tasmania, Australia

Posted: Wed Jan 21, 2004 12:29 pm

*goes to the kitchen to boil the kettle again - gotta keep the teapot hot for WHOEVER is coming in*

(hey, this could qualify as my first bit of yibble Shocked

)

#13: Author: Abi, Location: Alton, Hants

Posted: Wed Jan 21, 2004 12:31 pm

still no more story? Rolling Eyes

#14: Author: PatMac, Location: Yorkshire England

Posted: Wed Jan 21, 2004 12:44 pm

Tassie_Ellen wrote:

*goes to the kitchen to boil the kettle again - gotta keep the teapot hot for WHOEVER is coming in*

(hey, this could qualify as my first bit of yibble Shocked

)

Good thinking!

#15: Author: Carolyn P, Location: Lancaster, England

Posted: Wed Jan 21, 2004 12:49 pm

Politely requesting more, and incase that doesn't work rudely demanding more as well. Laughing

#16: Author: Lulie, Location: Middlesbrough

Posted: Thu Jan 22, 2004 12:22 am

OK, I've succumbed to the requests (except Carolyn's rude one) and written two whole sentences. Don't get too excited and don't read them all at once devil

Hopefully I can get some more done tomorrow without the scary Mr L looking over my shoulder like the Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come.
*****************
She wasn’t left in the dark for long. Just as Peggy had got up to go and help her mother, there came the sound of footsteps coming quickly down the passage, accompanied by muffled giggles and whispers.
*****************

P.S. Mr L = The Boss

#17: Author: Sarah_K, Location: St Albans

Posted: Thu Jan 22, 2004 12:44 am

Lulie! Your as bad as Rachel and her trick endings. Although thank you for giving us something.
*offers coffee

and

to bribe Lulie*

#18: Author: KB, Location: Melbourne, Australia

Posted: Thu Jan 22, 2004 1:40 am

Aaaaarrrrrrgggggghhhhh! That's it?! Two measly sentences?!

#19: Author: Vikki, Location: Possibly in hell! It's certainly hot enough.......

Posted: Thu Jan 22, 2004 4:17 am

*looks sternly at Lulie!*

#20: Author: KB, Location: Melbourne, Australia

Posted: Thu Jan 22, 2004 4:54 am

*wonders whether chanting would help*

#21: Author: Cathy, Location: Australia

Posted: Thu Jan 22, 2004 4:55 am

Oy! That's not very nice!

Please please please post some more ...

#22: Author: Abi, Location: Alton, Hants

Posted: Thu Jan 22, 2004 12:11 pm

Luleeeeeeee!! That's mean!!

*chants very loudly*

#23: Author: Susan, Location: Carlisle

Posted: Fri Jan 23, 2004 2:31 am

Lulie hope you have managed to write some more. Please.

#24: Author: Ellie, Location: Lincolnshire

Posted: Fri Jan 23, 2004 2:39 am

Thanks for what you have written Lulie, I'm looking forward to more, lots more as soon as you can manage, but I have to admit that it's a relief not to have to go to two or three archived bits for once.

#25: Author: KB, Location: Melbourne, Australia

Posted: Fri Jan 23, 2004 3:56 am

Oh, goodness, no more story? Crying or Very sad

#26: Author: Lesley, Location: Rochester, Kent

Posted: Fri Jan 23, 2004 4:51 pm

Including entire orchestra with chanting in hopes of an early post from Lulie!

piano

#27: Author: Vikki, Location: Possibly in hell! It's certainly hot enough.......

Posted: Fri Jan 23, 2004 10:55 pm

*wonders where Lulie has got to!!*

#28: Author: Lulie, Location: Middlesbrough

Posted: Fri Jan 23, 2004 11:05 pm

I am here, and I have written more. Due to college library changing its opening times, it is on old fashioned pen and paper. I can't be bothered to type it up right now Embarassed

. I recommend a look round the rest of the drabbles as a cure for waiting for me! I'm going to bed in a minute, cos my eyes keep closing ZZZZ

#29: Author: Vikki, Location: Possibly in hell! It's certainly hot enough.......

Posted: Sat Jan 24, 2004 12:10 am

Sleep well Lulie, and post lots tomorrow please!!!!

#30: Author: Lesley, Location: Rochester, Kent

Posted: Sat Jan 24, 2004 12:15 am

*Tells orchestra to quiet down so Lulie can get some sleep!*

#31: Author: Polly, Location: Essex

Posted: Sat Jan 24, 2004 1:05 am

Have just caught up, Lulie!! Hope you get a good night's sleep and post more story soon!!! Very Happy

#32: Author: Chelsea, Location: Your Imagination

Posted: Sat Jan 24, 2004 2:03 am

*hopes Lulie sleeps well (and not just so we get more story).

#33: Author: KB, Location: Melbourne, Australia

Posted: Sat Jan 24, 2004 6:57 am

*sneaks in to check that Lulie is warmly covered*

#34: Author: Abi, Location: Alton, Hants

Posted: Sat Jan 24, 2004 3:29 pm

*thinks Lulie could have woken up and typed some more by now*

#35: Author: Polly, Location: Essex

Posted: Sat Jan 24, 2004 5:42 pm

Luuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuulie! Where aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaare you?!

#36: Author: Laura, Location: London (ish)

Posted: Sat Jan 24, 2004 8:26 pm

Luuuuuuuuuuuuuuullllllllllllieeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee.... where are you??! We need more story!

#37: Author: Chelsea, Location: Your Imagination

Posted: Sat Jan 24, 2004 8:32 pm

*calls the police in Lulie's hometown to check on Lulie - there must be a problem if she is STILL sleeping.

#38: Author: KB, Location: Melbourne, Australia

Posted: Sat Jan 24, 2004 9:05 pm

*hopes the police break Lulie's front door down*

#39: Author: Vikki, Location: Possibly in hell! It's certainly hot enough.......

Posted: Sat Jan 24, 2004 10:15 pm

KB wrote:

*hopes the police break Lulie's front door down*

KB, that's a bit extreme....... Shocked

#40: Author: KB, Location: Melbourne, Australia

Posted: Sat Jan 24, 2004 10:20 pm

Why? It would get her going!

#41: Author: Lulie, Location: Middlesbrough

Posted: Sat Jan 24, 2004 11:48 pm

*forces two policemen to replace the glass in the front door and threatens them with dirty cat bowls if they don't*
Really, you lot! I got up at 8.15am and trotted off to do the shopping. How on earth am I expected to write drabbles of any kind with a grumbly tumbly Question

OK, so I did spend a lot of the afternoon knitting and watching the history channel, but that's cos...erm...*runs out of excuses and posts quickly*
******************
Just as Tom felt she must forget her manners and go and fling the door open, Bride saved her the trouble and did it herself. ‘Look who’s here, Tom!’ she exclaimed, standing back to allow her visitors into the room. ‘Tom!’ shrieked two voices in unison, and Tom leapt to her feet to be bounced on and hugged tightly by Primrose and Elfie, neither looking much different from when Tom had seen them on their last day at school. The four excited girls all talked at the same time, trying to catch up on all the gossip since they had left St Mildred’s in Switzerland. They didn’t even notice Peggy and Mr Bettany swiftly leaving the room! Bride wasn’t long in following them, but only to run to the kitchen and bring in a tray loaded with fresh tea and extra crockery. Primrose and Elfie settled down hungrily to their rather late tea, and Bride and Tom had another cup to keep them company. Tom caught up on Elfie’s training as a PT mistress and Primrose’s career as her father’s personal assistant, while she brought them up to date on her progress at her Theological College and the Boy’s Club. ‘They didn’t want me to start it at first,’ she said, referring to the tutors at the college, ‘But I argued them down and they finally agreed it would be good experience for me. Dad is supposed to oversee me, and everything, as it’s in his diocese, but he lets me get on pretty much as I like. He thinks they’re daft trying to stop somebody getting on like that in their chosen career, when it would give them valuable experience. I daren’t tell you what he says about them, it isn’t fit to be repeated some of the time!’
The other girls giggled at this, all of them having met Canon Gay at one time or another, and knowing him for a gentle, kind man, who rarely lost his temper. ‘How is it going, the Boy’s Club, I mean?’ asked Primrose. Tom smiled, transforming her rather plain face into something that was almost pretty for once. ‘It’s marvellous,’ she said, ‘the boys are just wonderful. Some of them when they first came were terrible; the way they behaved and the language that they used, but now they’re all settling down and they actually want to try things. I was telling them about our Sale and they all wanted to do something for it. Don’t tell anybody, but we’re all making doll’s houses, as a kind of model village, to send to the Sale. I want it to be a surprise to the school, so keep it to yourselves. I promised the boys I’d do that, and I’m going to write to somebody at the school, one of the triplets maybe, and ask them to write with the reaction so I can pass it onto the kids. They’re great. Most of them have nothing, literally nothing, and they’ve enough on their plates trying to survive in the awful slum conditions that they’re forced to live in, but all the boys and their families are giving everything they can to help make the houses, so they can raise as much money as possible. And this is for some child they have never met. It just amazes me, it really does. I just feel so spoilt, knowing I have everything that I want, and could get more if I wanted to, and these people are practically giving the shirts off their backs to help somebody they don’t know have a chance that many of their relatives deserve. Its things like that that make me realise why I’m doing what I’m doing.’ Tom went red after this speech. She wasn’t given to emotional outbursts like that, and she felt awkward, even though Bride, Primrose and Elfie were her closest friends. The other three sensed this, and Bride, displaying great tact, said ‘I’d like to say that I know what you mean, but I probably don’t. I could never do what you do, Tom, but I’d like to help. Shall we go out to the shed and look at what we have in there, if you two have finished your tea?’

#42: Author: Vikki, Location: Possibly in hell! It's certainly hot enough.......

Posted: Sat Jan 24, 2004 11:57 pm

Yay!! Thanks Lulie"!!!!

#43: Author: Carolyn P, Location: Lancaster, England

Posted: Sun Jan 25, 2004 12:00 am

I still like Bride. Isn't she tactful. Thanks a lot Lulie.

#44: Author: PatMac, Location: Yorkshire England

Posted: Sun Jan 25, 2004 12:02 am

Great Lulie. So true to the tom we came to know in the books. What's this about theological college? Did I miss something earlier?

*goes to root in cellar for things for the boys*

More please.

#45: Author: Lulie, Location: Middlesbrough

Posted: Sun Jan 25, 2004 12:10 am

PatMac, in Bride Leads the CS there is a discussion about what Tom and Co are going to do with their futures and Tom tells them she has finally made her mind up and is going to become a missionary - to their shock and surprise. She then explains that her father is going to help her with the training, which includes theological college, among other things.

#46: Author: Lulie, Location: Middlesbrough

Posted: Sun Jan 25, 2004 12:20 am

Here's the end bit of this paragraph. It didn't get highlighted with the rest for some reason, but I thought I'd be my usual generous self devil

and post it before I went to bed.

I may not get to post again until tomorrow evening, as I'm going to meet some friends for lunch and may not be back until teatime. So no sending the police round. They're terrible for damaging the front door Very Happy

****************
‘Tom’s right though,’ said Elfie to Primrose, as they were getting ready for bed that night, ‘We couldn’t do what she’s doing. It takes a special kind of person to change people’s lives like that, and Tom is that person.’
‘She is,’ agreed Primrose, then grinned, ‘You’d never think it to look at her. Do you remember when she first said she was going to train as a missionary? I almost died, it was the last thing I imagined Tom doing, but really it is the only thing she could do and be happy doing.’
‘But then, Tom has never been like the rest of us, has she? She’s surprised us all from day one.’

#47: Author: Carolyn P, Location: Lancaster, England

Posted: Sun Jan 25, 2004 12:21 am

Thanks, that rounds that section off nicely.

#48: Author: Ellie, Location: Lincolnshire

Posted: Sun Jan 25, 2004 1:09 am

Thank you for both those sections Lulie, Bride is one the books I don't have (I missed the GGB reissue) so I didn't know about Tom deciding to become a missionary. She's making a great start to her career though.

#49: Author: PatMac, Location: Yorkshire England

Posted: Sun Jan 25, 2004 10:41 am

thanks Lulie, I haven't read Bride for a long time and had completely forgotten that.

#50: Author: KB, Location: Melbourne, Australia

Posted: Sun Jan 25, 2004 11:41 am

Absolutely lovely, Lulie! I'm so glad to see these characters, who I loved so much!

#51: Author: Sarah_K, Location: St Albans

Posted: Sun Jan 25, 2004 6:50 pm

I can understand why Tom was getting impatient Razz

but it was brilliant when we saw who was there. Bride is wonderfully tactful but Tom is just plain wonderful with what she's doing.

#52: Author: Polly, Location: Essex

Posted: Sun Jan 25, 2004 6:52 pm

Thanx Lulie! Can we have some more please?! Very Happy

#53: Author: Lesley, Location: Rochester, Kent

Posted: Sun Jan 25, 2004 7:02 pm

Just read your earlier bits Lulie - wonderful! Thank you.

#54: Author: Jennie, Location: Cambridgeshire

Posted: Mon Jan 26, 2004 9:22 pm

Sleep well, Lulie, so you are nicely refreshed for a hard day's writig tomorrow. ZZZZ

#55: Author: Lulie, Location: Middlesbrough

Posted: Mon Jan 26, 2004 10:47 pm

*thanks Jennie for her sleep wishes*

*posts more story*

#56: Author: Lulie, Location: Middlesbrough

Posted: Mon Jan 26, 2004 10:51 pm

Bet you all thought I wasn't going to post. But I took pity on you all and decided to post more straight away.
typing

this was me this evening! I got a fair bit done, but am rewriting most of it, cos it was crap.
teeth

this is me in a few minutes - I had a late night last night and lots of wakings up, so I'm going to try and get as much sleep before midnight as I can.
**************************
Tom was the first awake the next morning, being a naturally early riser. She put the light on and plumped her pillows, ostensibly to read her book, but she sat there staring out of the window, her book forgotten on her lap. She had been so busy since leaving school she hadn’t given much thought to her life there, not being the type to dwell on the past. She had her memories, of course, but hadn’t dwelt on them excessively as some people might do. Now she almost felt forced to think about the school and the effect it had had on her and her outlook. These rather deep thoughts had been prompted by the reactions of her friends the previous evening. She had felt that, though they were generally supportive of what she did, and for that she was grateful, they didn’t quite understand just how things stood in the “real world” that she saw on a daily basis. ‘Was I like that?’ she mused, ‘I can’t remember. I know Dad and Mother wouldn’t let me go to the poorer parts of the parish, even when I was considered grown up in every other way. Is that because they still saw me as a child even though I was eighteen, or because the school had given me an outlook which may be seen as patronising to the people we were trying to help?’ She thought of the various charitable acts that they as schoolgirls had performed, such as sending gifts to a poor parish in Innsbruck every Christmas. Was that seen as the “gnadiges fraulein” playing Ladies Bountiful, or was it seen as genuine charity. Tom would have loved to go and get an honest opinion from the parish priest, or the parishioners themselves. But she couldn’t. Sitting there looking out of the window at the early morning sun, Tom made up her mind to watch herself for signs of being superior, something she had all too often seen in her fellow students at College. ‘They’re all still wanting to go out to the far reaches of Africa and China and convert people to Christianity,’ she thought, ‘but it isn’t like that any more. The role of missionary has changed since Victorian times. I think we’re there to help people live a decent life and to have things that other people, people like me, take for granted. Take my boys, for example. They don’t need me to come along and tell them about God and the Bible. For a start they should know some of it at least, and secondly, they probably can’t see how God is so good when they themselves have to live in such squalor. What I need to do is to lead by example and to help them to help themselves. Most of them would run a mile at the merest sniff of anything that resembled charity, and I reckon that people in other countries are the same. They only accept it if there is no alternative. It’s up to me to provide that alternative.’
Having made up her mind, Tom picked up her book looking very determined indeed

#57: Author: Chelsea, Location: Your Imagination

Posted: Mon Jan 26, 2004 11:01 pm

Love Tom's deep thinking - she seems to see quite deeply into things.

Thanks for that very lovely bit!

#58: Author: Carolyn P, Location: Lancaster, England

Posted: Mon Jan 26, 2004 11:06 pm

Very thoughtful Lulie. and a wonderful insight into Tom.

#59: Author: Polly, Location: Essex

Posted: Tue Jan 27, 2004 12:14 am

That was really really good, Lulie! Your rewrite obviously did the trick! Very Happy

#60: Author: Sarah_K, Location: St Albans

Posted: Tue Jan 27, 2004 1:41 am

Thanks Lulie! I love being able to see what Tom's thinking Very Happy

She's thinking a lot of good things too!

#61: Author: Vikki, Location: Possibly in hell! It's certainly hot enough.......

Posted: Tue Jan 27, 2004 4:56 am

Thanks Lulie!! More please!!

#62: Author: KB, Location: Melbourne, Australia

Posted: Tue Jan 27, 2004 7:09 am

Lulie, that's a wonderful and very realistic way for Tom to think! I only hope she carries it out!

#63: Author: Abi, Location: Alton, Hants

Posted: Tue Jan 27, 2004 1:14 pm

Lulie, this is wonderful. I love the way Tom is really thinking deeply now. Hope we get more soon.

#64: Author: Jennie, Location: Cambridgeshire

Posted: Tue Jan 27, 2004 5:28 pm

There's a lot of wisdom in what in the way that Tom is thinking, Lulie, it was really good to read it.

#65: Author: PatMac, Location: Yorkshire England

Posted: Tue Jan 27, 2004 6:52 pm

I love the way Tom is thinking. It made me think about that sort of thing as well. I suddenly realised how recent is the rethink about 'poor heathens' and the supposed supremecy of caucasians. I'm reading Matthew Parris's autobiography at the moment. He was a teenager in Rhodesia at the time of Ian Smith's rise to power and the majority of white Rhodesians really believed that the black people would be quite unable to cope without them. As he became Prime Minister in 1964, that is only 40 years ago. Tom is well ahead of her time.

This is really interesting, Lulie.

#66: Author: Ellie, Location: Lincolnshire

Posted: Tue Jan 27, 2004 11:03 pm

That's definitely very thoughtful of Tom, I'm pleased to see her thinking things through, but as one of her friends said, she always was different, wasn't she?

#67: Author: Susan, Location: Carlisle

Posted: Wed Jan 28, 2004 1:48 am

Like the others love the way Tom is thinking. There are too many people in the world who will rush off to the other side of it to do something yet completly ignore the people in their own town or even their streetwho have deep needs.

#68: Author: KB, Location: Melbourne, Australia

Posted: Wed Jan 28, 2004 4:05 am

*suggests it's more than time to chant*

#69: Author: Trish, Location: Australia

Posted: Wed Jan 28, 2004 8:09 am

*agrees wholeheartedly with KB*

#70: Author: Lesley, Location: Rochester, Kent

Posted: Wed Jan 28, 2004 9:16 am

Thank you for the last post Lulie - so good to see Tom thinking so deeply - and realising how some acts of 'charity' can be resented by the very people they are supposed to help.

More please.

#71: Author: Vikki, Location: Possibly in hell! It's certainly hot enough.......

Posted: Wed Jan 28, 2004 10:10 pm

*joins the chant!*

#72: Author: Lulie, Location: Middlesbrough

Posted: Wed Jan 28, 2004 10:31 pm

*removes earplugs* Were you chanting, ladies? No. Oh well, there's no need to post more then, is there?

devil

#73: Author: Carolyn P, Location: Lancaster, England

Posted: Wed Jan 28, 2004 11:15 pm

LULIE! Get back here now and listen properly!
drummer

#74: Author: Lulie, Location: Middlesbrough

Posted: Wed Jan 28, 2004 11:25 pm

*the noise of Carolyn's frenzied drumming penetrates even Mr. Quiet's Super Strength Ear Plugs*
*So that chaotic humming was a chant? Apologies and all that, it was my ear plugs, they're too effective tongue

*
*********************
She’d barely opened it when there came a tap at the door. Bride stuck her head round, in response to Tom’s ‘Come in.’
‘Oh good, I thought you’d be awake,’ she said, ‘Can I come in?’
‘You most certainly can, the question is may you?’ replied Tom, with a wicked grin, quoting Miss Annersley perfectly. Bride closed the door behind her and grinned back, ‘I haven’t heard that for ages!’ she said, ‘and I see quite a bit of Auntie… Miss Annersley, I mean.’
‘Maybe the present lot of Chalet girls have better English than we did,’ suggested Tom, putting her book on the bedside table, ‘Bride Bettany, where are your slippers? Your feet must be frozen! Here, wrap them in this,’ Tom curled her own feet under her and offered the bottom of the bed to Bride. Bride sat down, wrapping the sheets and blankets round her chilly feet. ‘Thanks. It’s a good job we aren’t at school, Matey would have a fit. Anyway, I just came to tell you that I thought we could have a look through the shed first thing after breakfast. Mummy said that she’d let me off doing my chores for once, so we four could work on that.’
‘Oh, that was good of her. Who’s going to do them?’ Tom knew, from things Bride had said at school, that the day’s chores were taken seriously in the Bettany household and nobody was allowed to shirk their allotted share, unless they had a very good excuse. ‘Peg and Maeve are sharing them out. I’ll do the same by them another time, so don’t look so worried! Come on, if we scoot, we can get into the bathroom before the others get up. You get your things and go, and I’ll wake Prim and Elfie.’

‘Gosh, I didn’t realise there was so much stuff,’ Bride pushed her hair off her hot face and surveyed the three heaps before her. The largest was rubbish to be got rid of in one way or another, a smaller one was bits and pieces still to be looked through, and the third was the things that were to be loaded into the van for Tom to take home with her. ‘Come on, we’ve nearly finished. I don’t know about you, but a drink would be welcome when we’re through this lot. Tom, what about these packing cases? Keep or discard?’ Elfie pulled four packing cases towards her, all in rather a sorry state. ‘Keep,’ replied Tom, ‘We’re always desperate for wood,’
Bride and Primrose glanced at each other in silent sympathy, before turning and helping once more. It was almost lunchtime before they’d finished, and Maeve came racing out the house ‘Bride, Mummy says will you come and wash before lunch, cos you’re sure to be…golly! You look like a bunch of chimney sweeps!’
The four girls looked at one another, and at Maeve’s face, and burst out laughing. They were covered in dust and dirt from hair to toes, Tom had a spider’s web adorning her hair and Elfie had a scratch all along one arm. ‘Come on, girls,’ said Bride, ‘we’d better change as well as wash. Here, Tom, bend down a bit, you’ve a cobweb on your head,’ She brushed at Tom’s hair vigorously before letting her visitor back towards the house, where the four of them washed and changed, ready just in time. The gong went just as they were putting the finishing touches to their attire.
‘What are you girls doing this afternoon?’ asked Dick Bettany, as they ate their pudding. ‘You’ve worked hard this morning. The boys and I are going to load the van with all of Tom’s stuff, so you don’t have to worry about that. You can enjoy yourselves.’
‘Are you really? Oh thanks, Dad,’ Bride referred to the second part of her father’s speech, ‘I don’t know what we’re doing. How about we all go for a walk? Mummy, Peg, Maeve, you three as well?’
‘That’s a good idea,’ replied Mrs Bettany, ‘Where were you thinking of? The moors or across the dunes?’
‘Wherever,’ replied Bride, airily, ‘we haven’t been to the moors lately. What do you three think?’ She turned to her guests, who all assured her that they didn’t mind, so they fixed on the moors, as it was easier walking underfoot.

#75: Author: Chelsea, Location: Your Imagination

Posted: Wed Jan 28, 2004 11:29 pm

Thanks for that bit

*has an ominous feeling about the moors

#76: Author: PatMac, Location: Yorkshire England

Posted: Thu Jan 29, 2004 12:00 am

thanks for that Lulie! I like the way they all helped and that Tom is bringing the boys' needs home to them in a real way and so naturally.

Chelsea - you've been reading too much Wuthering Heights (I hope)

#77: Author: Polly, Location: Essex

Posted: Thu Jan 29, 2004 12:22 am

*Agrees about moors being easier walking than dunes - less painful on the calf muscles! - but only if walkers don't find boggy patches!!*

#78: Author: Vikki, Location: Possibly in hell! It's certainly hot enough.......

Posted: Thu Jan 29, 2004 1:28 am

This is great Lulie!!!
*wonders what will happen next, and chants for more*

#79: Author: Chelsea, Location: Your Imagination

Posted: Thu Jan 29, 2004 1:35 am

PatMac wrote:

I think I've just read too many drabbles:
Tensions
Romance
Real CS...

#80: Author: PatMac, Location: Yorkshire England

Posted: Thu Jan 29, 2004 11:47 am

Quite likely, Chelsea. If I have a real long go at them, I have to look to see which one I'm in sometimes!

#81: Author: Sarah_K, Location: St Albans

Posted: Thu Jan 29, 2004 11:51 am

PatMac, that was my first thought too! I'm sure Lulie would never do anything like that though... Confused

#82: Author: Ellie, Location: Lincolnshire

Posted: Thu Jan 29, 2004 4:47 pm

But the very word 'moors' always conjures up images of potential danger, well it does to me anyway, maybe because I've read so many books where things do go wrong.

#83: Author: KB, Location: Melbourne, Australia

Posted: Thu Jan 29, 2004 6:16 pm

Famous Five, for instance...

And I love the mental image of the three of them hunting through boxes and whatnot! I imagine Tom got straight into it, Bride then joined in and the other two hung back for a moment before getting into it too.

#84: Author: Lesley, Location: Rochester, Kent

Posted: Fri Jan 30, 2004 7:04 am

Thanks for the last post - like the others have an ominous feeling about the moors!

#85: Author: Susan, Location: Carlisle

Posted: Sun Feb 01, 2004 1:54 am

Looks like Lulie vgot lost on the moors too. More story would be nice.

Arranges chairs for others to use when they come along and chant. Goes off to put kettle on for hot drinks

#86: Author: PatMac, Location: Yorkshire England

Posted: Sun Feb 01, 2004 10:39 am

Is the kettle boiled yet, Susan? Ooh, good. Black coffee for me, please.

*settles down to wait trying to shake off ominous feeling about moors*.

#87: Author: Susan, Location: Carlisle

Posted: Sun Feb 01, 2004 5:05 pm

Hope the weather is better than here if they are on the moors. It has hardly stopped raining since Friday.

#88: Author: PatMac, Location: Yorkshire England

Posted: Sun Feb 01, 2004 6:06 pm

If Lulie is still on the moors, I'm beginning to worry. Shocked

More likely RL has claimed her.

#89: Author: Carolyn P, Location: Lancaster, England

Posted: Sun Feb 01, 2004 8:16 pm

RL has a habit of doing that doesn't it? Crying or Very sad

#90: Author: Vikki, Location: Possibly in hell! It's certainly hot enough.......

Posted: Mon Feb 02, 2004 1:08 am

*thinks RL is very mean!*

#91: Author: Abi, Location: Alton, Hants

Posted: Mon Feb 02, 2004 3:26 pm

What? Is there still no more drabble?

*thinks of Lulie out there on the moors.....all alone in the snow and the cold*

*shivers and goes off to put the kettle on!*

#92: Author: Polly, Location: Essex

Posted: Tue Feb 03, 2004 12:22 am

Can I have a cup of tea please, Abi?
Ta! yummy

#93: Author: Abi, Location: Alton, Hants

Posted: Tue Feb 03, 2004 1:09 pm

*offers cups of tea to anyone who wants them, and Lulie when she gets back from the moors (I mean offering her tea, not offering her to people)*

#94: Author: PatMac, Location: Yorkshire England

Posted: Tue Feb 03, 2004 1:35 pm

I've brought some sandwiches - looks like a long wait!

#95: Author: Jennie, Location: Cambridgeshire

Posted: Tue Feb 03, 2004 5:32 pm

I'm getting a bit anxious about Lulie. Should we send out a search party?

#96: Author: KB, Location: Melbourne, Australia

Posted: Tue Feb 03, 2004 6:45 pm

I think we should, yes.

#97: Author: Carolyn P, Location: Lancaster, England

Posted: Tue Feb 03, 2004 8:32 pm

Poor Lulie, this is not the weather to be lost on the moors. *shivers*

KB congrats on your 3000th post! jester

#98: Author: Polly, Location: Essex

Posted: Tue Feb 03, 2004 11:54 pm

*sends Lulie a sou'wester and some galoshes to keep her dry on the moors*

#99: Author: Caroline OSullivan, Location: Reading, Berkshire, UK

Posted: Wed Feb 04, 2004 12:03 am

*sends Lulie a tent and sleeping bag to keep her dry and a teddy bear to cuddle Smile

*

Hope you're ok Lulie and RL isn't being too awful

#100: Author: KB, Location: Melbourne, Australia

Posted: Wed Feb 04, 2004 6:28 pm

Carolyn P wrote:

KB congrats on your 3000th post! jester

*shrieks* 3,000!!! I never even noticed! *faints with a loud crash*

#101: Author: Lulie, Location: Middlesbrough

Posted: Wed Feb 04, 2004 10:39 pm

*accepts tent, sleeping bag, tea and teddy gratefully*
Luckily I wasn't lost on the moors. This isn't really the weather for walking on moors, so I tend to avoid them as being dangerous! Of course, I have no such misgivings when sending story people up there *mwahahahahahahaha*

However, nasty ol' Real Life did get in the way. My mutant virus that has been around forever (disguised as 4 weeks) just shot up into my sinuses and hurt! Then my body decided that anaemia would be a good thing. So I've been trying to find the energy to simply get up each day Sad

let alone switch on a computer and write drabbles. I did try to keep up and pop in now and again, but it wasn't as successful as I wanted it to be Very Happy

The good news is that I'm feeling much better now, thanks to Michael Maguire, my local friendly pharmacist (almost a doctor, but sadly married - sadly for me that is, not his wife!) so I will hopefully be able to get down to proper things once more.

After all those wild promises, I'm going downstairs to watch TV. There's a programme about Stonehenge on the history channel. I'm sure it will be very useful research for 'Tom'.

#102: Author: PatMac, Location: Yorkshire England

Posted: Wed Feb 04, 2004 10:58 pm

Glad you are feeling better at last.

#103: Author: Polly, Location: Essex

Posted: Thu Feb 05, 2004 1:41 am

*sends a few hugs and some Olbas oil in Lulie's direction*

#104: Author: KB, Location: Melbourne, Australia

Posted: Thu Feb 05, 2004 5:19 am

*joins in huggling Lulie* Just post more when you can, hon. Kiss

#105: Author: Tassie_Ellen, Location: Tasmania, Australia

Posted: Thu Feb 05, 2004 7:33 am

Hope you feel better soon, Lulie, anemia's no joke! I had to have an operation last year to fix the cause of mine...

Loving the way Tom is turning out!

#106: Author: KB, Location: Melbourne, Australia

Posted: Thu Feb 05, 2004 7:43 am

I hope you've recovered now, Ellen!

#107: Author: Tassie_Ellen, Location: Tasmania, Australia

Posted: Thu Feb 05, 2004 7:57 am

Yes, thanks, KB, I'm a different person now. Life is good again!

#108: Author: KB, Location: Melbourne, Australia

Posted: Thu Feb 05, 2004 8:20 am

Glad to hear it! *huggles*

#109: Author: Abi, Location: Alton, Hants

Posted: Thu Feb 05, 2004 11:27 am

*huggles Lulie and Tassie_Ellen* Glad you're feeling better now Lulie!

#110: Author: Carolyn P, Location: Lancaster, England

Posted: Thu Feb 05, 2004 7:17 pm

Huggles Lulie, sinus things are no fun, I had one a few weeks ago that lasted over a week, and if yours is combined with anemia...

Hope you feel better soon.

#111: Author: Susan, Location: Carlisle

Posted: Fri Feb 06, 2004 1:30 am

Poor Lulie. Glad you are feeling better now.

#112: Author: Vikki, Location: Possibly in hell! It's certainly hot enough.......

Posted: Fri Feb 06, 2004 1:31 am

*huggles everyone*

#113: Author: KB, Location: Melbourne, Australia

Posted: Fri Feb 06, 2004 7:59 am

*warns Vikki against getting carried away*

#114: Author: Jennie, Location: Cambridgeshire

Posted: Fri Feb 06, 2004 1:23 pm

But everyone needs a big huggle every day. Thank you, Vikki. Very Happy

#115: Author: PatMac, Location: Yorkshire England

Posted: Fri Feb 06, 2004 1:45 pm

You can't have too many huggles! Laughing

#116: Author: Abi, Location: Alton, Hants

Posted: Fri Feb 06, 2004 1:51 pm

Huggles are the hook on which the coat of life hangs.

#117: Author: KB, Location: Melbourne, Australia

Posted: Fri Feb 06, 2004 7:10 pm

What a lovely phrase, Abi!

#118: Author: Vikki, Location: Possibly in hell! It's certainly hot enough.......

Posted: Fri Feb 06, 2004 9:17 pm

I agree!! that's a lovely line Abi!!!!

#119: Author: Lulie, Location: Middlesbrough

Posted: Fri Feb 06, 2004 10:39 pm

Thanks all for the huggles and wishes. The anaemia is fine now, but the nose is still blocked and red. I'm practising for my part of Rudolph in the Christmas Play. You'll be getting the next few bits in short bursts, as I type them up.

Heavily booted and wrapped up warm, the small party of women set off soon after lunch, leaving their men folk busy heaving wood, paints and all sorts of other paraphernalia into the little van that the Bettanys used to transport their goods to and from the estate. It was a fairly pleasant day, a bit dull and grey, but it was mild and the party of seven chattered hard as they made their way along one of the many moorland paths. They were laughing at Maeve’s retelling of the term’s events at the Chalet School when Tom suddenly exclaimed, ‘ I say, isn’t it getting misty?’
They all stopped and turned to look around them. The panoramic views of rolling moorland had vanished, hidden by the swirling mist that was rapidly becoming thicker. ‘Quick, girls, put on your macs and try not to move,’ said Mrs Bettany, taking her own mac out of her rucksack as she spoke. They did as they were told and Peggy also pulled seven pairs of gloves from her rucksack and handed them round. ‘I didn’t know if it would be chilly up here, or not, so I brought them anyway,’ she explained in response to her mother’s query. They pulled them on gratefully, for the mist was damp. Kitted out properly, the seven of them looked around. The mist had descended with an alarming speed and they now appeared to be in the only clear patch, surrounded by the white clouds. None of them made any effort to move the party onwards, and it was Maeve who voiced their concern. ‘But which way were we going?’

#120: Author: Vikki, Location: Possibly in hell! It's certainly hot enough.......

Posted: Fri Feb 06, 2004 11:26 pm

*perches on the edge of the cliff!*

#121: Author: Lulie, Location: Middlesbrough

Posted: Sat Feb 07, 2004 12:13 am

provides Vikki with a special padded cliff edge cushion

They had all moved about in the confusion of putting on macs and gloves, and with the fog so thick they had lost all sense of their direction. A path stretched in front and behind them and old brown heather surrounded them, all of it disappearing into a dense white shroud. Squashing the wave of panic that rose up inside her, Mollie demanded ‘Has anybody brought a compass?’ Nobody has. ‘Well, in that case we’d better keep walking. If we keep straight on one direction will bring us home and the other sill eventually take us to Great Kirkby, where we can at least ask for help and contact Dick or the boys to come and get us. Go in pairs and I’ll bring up the rear, but keep moving if you can. We’ll have the most dreadful colds if we stand here much longer.’
Thankful that there were no small children with them, Maeve being seventeen and a prefect, Mollie tailed off the little procession that was led by Tom and Bride. There was very little conversation, all of them concentrating hard on the path, which almost disappeared under the heather in some parts and was littered with small stones and pebbles in others. Suddenly they came upon what could politely be called a crossroads, marked by a small standing stone, pitted and cracked with long exposure to the weather. Bride and Tom stopped. ‘Which way now?’ asked Bride, as the others caught up with them. Nobody replied at first. Everybody instinctively looked round again, but the fog blanket was thicker than before. ‘Let’s keep going straight ahead,’ said Mollie, not liking the looks of despair on the girlish faces around her. ‘These moorland paths are usually fairly direct, with few of the twists and turns that our modern roads have. Are you all warm enough?’ They all chorused that they were, so Bride and Tom set off again. It seemed endless, that trudge through the thick clinging mist. They stopped now and again for a rest and to share the food and hot coffee that Bride and Maeve had stored in their rucksacks. ‘Don’t drink it all,’ warned Tom, as they handed round the flask, ‘we may need it later.’ So Bride packed away the half full flask in her rucksack once more, and feeling much better and with their second wind, the party set out once more.

#122: Author: Vikki, Location: Possibly in hell! It's certainly hot enough.......

Posted: Sat Feb 07, 2004 12:15 am

Thank you Lulie!! (for the drabble and the cushion!!)

#123: Author: Ellie, Location: Lincolnshire

Posted: Sat Feb 07, 2004 12:34 am

Thank you Lulie, I'm pleased that you're feeling a little better, appreciate you writing this while you're still a bit below par.
I knew something was going to happen on the moor, though strangely, I never thought about mist.
It's making me feel cold reading this.

#124: Author: Sarah_K, Location: St Albans

Posted: Sat Feb 07, 2004 12:58 am

*shivers*
I hope Mollie's right about going straightforwards, can't be nice stuck in that situation with all those girls!

Thanks for writing when you're not quite right Lulie
*huggles*

#125: Author: Chelsea, Location: Your Imagination

Posted: Sat Feb 07, 2004 1:58 am

*points out that she did warn people that a trip on the Moors could lead to problems - and was laughed at!

Who's laughing now?

#126: Author: KB, Location: Melbourne, Australia

Posted: Sat Feb 07, 2004 6:39 am

Hey, I thought it might be worrisome too! *clings on to cliff edge and resists all offers of assistance*

#127: Author: Lesley, Location: Rochester, Kent

Posted: Sat Feb 07, 2004 3:13 pm

Thank you Lulie.

Very worried because some paths on the moors are just animal tracks and they could be going round in circles or heading further onto the moor.

#128: Author: Jennie, Location: Cambridgeshire

Posted: Sat Feb 07, 2004 3:35 pm

Echoes Lesley's worries, but remembers that Tom is with them, and how competent she is.

#129: Author: PatMac, Location: Yorkshire England

Posted: Sat Feb 07, 2004 3:58 pm

Takes comfort in the fact that Mollie Bettany is level headed and that they are doing the only sensible thing. What time is it? It may get dark soon.

*Straps on drabble harness and waits on very edge of cliff*

#130: Author: Jennie, Location: Cambridgeshire

Posted: Sat Feb 07, 2004 3:59 pm

The trampolines have arrived and are installed, but sending drabble cliff scaling equipment just in case.

#131: Author: Vikki, Location: Possibly in hell! It's certainly hot enough.......

Posted: Sat Feb 07, 2004 6:09 pm

*pushes the trampoline into the optimum position!*

#132: Author: KB, Location: Melbourne, Australia

Posted: Sat Feb 07, 2004 6:43 pm

PatMac wrote:

What time is it? It may get dark soon.

No doubt it will be dark soon, or fog will thicken and become impenetrable... Wink

#133: Author: Susan, Location: Carlisle

Posted: Sun Feb 08, 2004 1:06 am

Thnk you Lulie for more story - hope you are better today.

#134: Author: Polly, Location: Essex

Posted: Sun Feb 08, 2004 11:41 pm

Thanx Lulie! Glad you are feeling better.

*joins everyone on the cliff edge with a fleece and head torch on in case the fog spreads up here too*

#135: Author: KB, Location: Melbourne, Australia

Posted: Mon Feb 09, 2004 7:33 am

Very organised of you, Polly!

#136: Author: Abi, Location: Alton, Hants

Posted: Mon Feb 09, 2004 3:39 pm

Yay, thank you Lulie - please save them soon though!

*thinks cliffs in the fog are very dangerous - how are we supposed to aim for the trampoline?*

#137: Author: Polly, Location: Essex

Posted: Tue Feb 10, 2004 1:02 am

KB wrote:

Very organised of you, Polly!

I know!!

It's good isn't it? It doesn't happen very often!!! Very Happy

#138: Author: KB, Location: Melbourne, Australia

Posted: Tue Feb 10, 2004 8:59 am

Abi wrote:

Yay, thank you Lulie - please save them soon though!

*thinks cliffs in the fog are very dangerous - how are we supposed to aim for the trampoline?*

We have to just jump and hope for the best. *lands on a very hard rock*

#139: Author: Abi, Location: Alton, Hants

Posted: Tue Feb 10, 2004 12:24 pm

*jumps after KB and fortunately hits the trampoline.*

*scrambles off to apply first aid to KB*

#140: Author: KB, Location: Melbourne, Australia

Posted: Wed Feb 11, 2004 8:21 am

*thanks Abi but wonders if mouth-to-mouth is really necessary*

#141: Author: Kat, Location: Swansea

Posted: Wed Feb 11, 2004 7:45 pm

This is brilliant! Please don't let them be lost for long - and don't let them be hurt!

Oh, and MORE PLEASE!!! Wink

#142: Author: Polly, Location: Essex

Posted: Wed Feb 11, 2004 11:50 pm

Still no more?!!!! Please can we have a bit Lulie. Very Happy

#143: Author: KB, Location: Melbourne, Australia

Posted: Thu Feb 12, 2004 6:17 am

Any chance of learning their collective fates any time soon?

#144: Author: Vikki, Location: Possibly in hell! It's certainly hot enough.......

Posted: Thu Feb 12, 2004 5:52 pm

Doesn't look like it KB!! Wink

#145: Author: KB, Location: Melbourne, Australia

Posted: Thu Feb 12, 2004 6:17 pm

*sigh* Obviously not... Crying or Very sad

#146: Author: Susan, Location: Carlisle

Posted: Fri Feb 13, 2004 3:35 am

starts to chant again

#147: Author: Chelsea, Location: Your Imagination

Posted: Fri Feb 13, 2004 4:50 am

*joins the chant

#148: Author: KB, Location: Melbourne, Australia

Posted: Fri Feb 13, 2004 7:55 am

*adds to chant*

#149: Author: PatMac, Location: Yorkshire England

Posted: Fri Feb 13, 2004 8:29 am

*Joins the chant, supplying flasks of coffee and tea and Kendall Mint Cake - it's cold up here.*

#150: Author: pip_penguin, Location: Melbourne

Posted: Fri Feb 13, 2004 10:56 am

Thank you Lulie, I just started reading this and am really enjoying it!

*joins in chant as well* (My first chant, am all excited!)

#151: Author: Susan, Location: Carlisle

Posted: Fri Feb 13, 2004 12:35 pm

PatMac wrote:

*Joins the chant, supplying flasks of coffee and tea and Kendall Mint Cake - it's cold up here.*

Accepts gratefully - love Kendal Mint Cake

#152: Author: Pat, Location: Doncaster

Posted: Fri Feb 13, 2004 1:01 pm

You can have Kendal Mint Cake at any time, not just when it's cold!

#153: Author: Jennie, Location: Cambridgeshire

Posted: Fri Feb 13, 2004 3:17 pm

Hoping for more drabble soon, before I die of cold. Can't eat Kendal mint cake. Lulie, did you hear that?

#154: Author: Chelsea, Location: Your Imagination

Posted: Fri Feb 13, 2004 4:19 pm

What is a Kendall Mint Cake - other than a cake that is minty made by a man named Kendall?

Oh and - MORE STORY PLEASE!!!

#155: Author: Lesley, Location: Rochester, Kent

Posted: Sat Feb 14, 2004 8:51 am

Lulie? How long are you going to leave them on that moor? Please give us some more story! Smile

#156: Author: KB, Location: Melbourne, Australia

Posted: Sat Feb 14, 2004 9:04 am

*joins in Lesley's chant*

#157: Author: Jennie, Location: Cambridgeshire

Posted: Sat Feb 14, 2004 5:32 pm

Hope Lulie is soon feeling well enough to write some more of this.

#158: Author: Sarah_G-G, Location: Nr. Guildford

Posted: Sat Feb 14, 2004 7:46 pm

*eagerly anticipating more story and getting worried*
I hope everything's alright.

#159: Author: Vikki, Location: Possibly in hell! It's certainly hot enough.......

Posted: Sun Feb 15, 2004 9:21 pm

Should we send out a search party for Lulie do you think?

#160: Author: Lulie, Location: Middlesbrough

Posted: Sun Feb 15, 2004 11:53 pm

wanders rather vaguely in, grabs tissue from box, blows nose and wanders off again looking for medication.

Sorry I haven't been posting, everybody. I've spent most of the last few days either doing essentials (like food shopping), eating or sleeping. I'm feeling much better now, if a little washed out. I have to take mother to the hospital tomorrow morning to have her eyes photographed. It's something to do with her diabetes, but I'm easily confused and didn't understand the explaination. All I know is that she has to have drops in and so can't drive. Anyway, what I set out to say was that after that I had thought to do my marking. Very boring and I'm quite good at avoiding work!

*takes a file, marks it, writes some drabble, takes a file, marks it, writes some drabble........

Cross your fingers!!!

#161: Author: Polly, Location: Essex

Posted: Mon Feb 16, 2004 12:58 am

Good luck with the marking Lulie!!!

Chelsea, Kendal Mint Cake is a concoction made from sugar, peppermint oil and a few other things that is made into a flatish, hard rectangle. It is yummy and walkers etc. use is as it takes only a weeny bit to give you energy and refresh you - pure sugar almost!!!! (and it doesn't melt like chocolate!) yummy

#162: Author: Chelsea, Location: Your Imagination

Posted: Mon Feb 16, 2004 1:19 am

Sounds like Maple Sugar candy. Not the taste but the 'doesn't melt like chocolate' and 'pure sugar' part. You guys almost got that in my care package, but the thought of you all with all that sugar...

#163: Author: Vikki, Location: Possibly in hell! It's certainly hot enough.......

Posted: Mon Feb 16, 2004 2:16 am

*huggles Lulie*

Chelsea, would this care package of yours happen to contain any kind of peanut butter candy? *hopeful*

#164: Author: Chelsea, Location: Your Imagination

Posted: Mon Feb 16, 2004 2:19 am

It might.

Okay it does.

It has:

*now Rachael and KB cannot eat the good stuff before the rest of you get there Wink

#165: Author: PatMac, Location: Yorkshire England

Posted: Mon Feb 16, 2004 2:22 am

Vikki wrote:

Chelsea, would this care package of yours happen to contain any kind of peanut butter candy? *hopeful*

Reeces Peanut Butter Cups? In a care package? Oh, bliss!

*Huggles Lulie* Hope you feel better soon. It must be a cyber virus, we've nearly all had it now!

#166: Author: Vikki, Location: Possibly in hell! It's certainly hot enough.......

Posted: Mon Feb 16, 2004 2:45 am

Chelsea, honey, you are an absolute ANGEL!!!!!!!!
*big big huggles*

#167: Author: KB, Location: Melbourne, Australia

Posted: Mon Feb 16, 2004 8:21 am

*huggles LUlie*

I suspect the drops may be to dilate your mother's pupils so that the doctor can see to the very back of the eye. It's very risky to drive or whatnot, as the pupil can't shrink again and thus the person can't see properly in bright light.

#168: Author: Lulie, Location: Middlesbrough

Posted: Mon Feb 16, 2004 11:08 pm

KB, that's exactly what they did do. I should have known as I had the same done to me when I was having my laser treatment. I'm like the Scarecrow in the Wizard of Oz - I need a brain!

I hope everybody enjoyed their Mint Cake. My favourite is the brown one. I hope somebody saved me a bit! Oh, and if anybody is cold, then you obviously didn't dress properly for walking on the moors. Lots of layers, topped off with a waterproof and walking boots with two pairs of socks. Tut tut, didn't the CS teach you anything?

Hours seemed to pass and still the little group trudged on. Even Tom, the biggest and strongest, was tiring, and tiny Peggy could barely put one foot in front of the other. Mollie kept glancing anxiously at her eldest daughter. She had not forgotten how delicate Peggy had been as a child, following a nasty bout of measles. Mollie had never forgotten the struggle she and Dick had had not to race to Austria from India, to see their tiny girl when she was so ill. Most people had forgotten this, as Peggy was much stronger and had rarely ailed anything since childhood. Eventually Tom stopped, causing Primrose and Elfie to trip over her. ‘What’s up, Tom?’ asked Bride, from where she had stopped a few steps ahead. ‘I’ve a feeling we’re either heading in the wrong direction or we’re going round in circles,’ replied Tom, her voice sounding loud in the silence that surrounded them. Mollie, Peggy and Maeve, who had fallen behind, caught up with them. ‘What’s the matter?’ asked Mollie. Tom repeated her remarks. Mollie, who had had the same thoughts, nodded and said so. Maeve looked slightly panicky, ‘What do we do then?’
‘Take that look from your face, for a start,’ said Bride, rather abruptly, but she wanted to stop Maeve from going into hysterics or something, ‘And then eat some of the chocolate that I am going to give you,’
Thinking unpleasant thoughts about older sisters, Maeve nibbled on the chunk of nut chocolate that Bride handed over and watched her elders in an enforced silence.
‘Couldn’t we go back to the crossroads and start again?’ asked Primrose, ‘or we could keep going. I know it feels as if we’ve walked miles, but we may not have done, we can’t really judge because we can’t see where we are going.’
‘How far is this other village?’ asked Tom, noting Peggy’s face paling at the thought of walking all that way back.
‘It’s about ten miles across the moor from the crossroads,’ replied Mollie, flinging an arm round Peggy’s shoulders and holding her other hand out to Maeve.
‘Well, I’ve no idea how far we’ve come, but I don’t fancy walking back just to risk getting lost again. Let’s have a vote to decide what to do next. All those who want to try Primrose’s idea raise their hands.’
Nobody moved. ‘Right, let’s carry on then. This mist is a bit wetting to say the least!’
‘Hang on a minute, Tom. Let me just share this out and we can munch as we walk,’ Bride handed round the rest of her chocolate, then proceeded to set the pace, slower than it had been.
[/i]

#169: Author: PatMac, Location: Yorkshire England

Posted: Mon Feb 16, 2004 11:27 pm

Oh, dear. The situation is getting worse. *bites nails*

#170: Author: Lesley, Location: Rochester, Kent

Posted: Mon Feb 16, 2004 11:34 pm

'round and round and round and round and round.......'

Could be on the moor a long time!

Thanks Lulie - hope you're feeling better!

#171: Author: Sarah_K, Location: St Albans

Posted: Mon Feb 16, 2004 11:44 pm

Oh dear, I do hope they're not lost. Maybe they're just going slower than they thought
*keeps fingers tightly crossed for the girls*

You're right about Peggy's illness, it doesn't get mentioned as much as some people's delicacy!

#172: Author: Rosie, Location: Huntingdonshire

Posted: Mon Feb 16, 2004 11:52 pm

Oh dear... Walking in mist/cloud/dark is definitely on my list of 'Things To Do In The Countryside That Aren't Much Fun'.
*hunts out own (very squashed) bar of mint cake*
*realises said mint cake has been in rucksack pocket for a Considerable Length Of Time and hurridly puts it back*

#173: Author: Lulie, Location: Middlesbrough

Posted: Mon Feb 16, 2004 11:55 pm

Oh dear, I can't be responsible for the terrible state that people's nails will be in if they continue to bite them. Here's a bit more for you all (only to save nails, you understand) I can't do much over the next couple of days, as I'm in Huddersfield all day tomorrow and York the day after that. But I'll do my best!

Feeling very wet and icy cold the party was almost at the end of their endurance when suddenly Tom stopped again. ‘Listen!’ she said, lowering her voice this time. They all listened. ‘I can’t hear anything,’ complained Primrose.
‘There it is again!’
They listened harder, straining to hear any sound through the thick blanket of mist. Then came the sound that sharp-eared Tom had heard. A dog barking. ‘The village! We’ve found it!’ shrieked Maeve, dancing excitedly. Mollie exclaimed too, but for a very different reason. Leaping forward she was just in time to catch Peggy as she fainted from exhaustion, cold and relief. Resisting the urge to tell her hostess to stop twittering, Tom took the unconscious Peggy from Mollie. ‘Come on, we can’t stop now,’ she said, lifting Peggy in her arms, as if she weighed nothing. ‘The sooner Peggy gets warm and dry, the better. There must be somebody that will help us,’
Trailing after Tom like a set of dripping ducklings, they walked into the quiet village. There wasn’t a soul about, not surprising considering the weather. Even the dog seemed to have disappeared. ‘Do we just knock on the first door we come to?’ wondered Elfie, aloud, ‘they’ll get the fright of their lives! We all look such sights,’
‘No, come on. I’ve an idea,’ said Tom, her long legs allowing her to stride ahead of them all.
‘Where are you going? Tom, hang on a minute. We aren’t all storks like you,’ Elfie and Mollie, the two smallest after Peggy, hurried to keep up. Tom, remembering that Mollie was supposed to be in charge, slowed down and waited for them all to catch up with her. ‘Sorry, Mrs Bettany, I didn’t mean to go so fast. I was going to the Vicarage, they tend to be large-ish houses and I thought the Vicar may be more likely to help us than just an ordinary person.’
‘It’s as good an idea as any. Lead on, Tom.’ Mollie was secretly glad to leave the leading to this rather masterful girl. She wouldn’t have thought of all that, she would just have knocked on every door until somebody helped them. It didn’t take Tom long to find the Vicarage, a little way from the small village church. She marched up the garden path, Peggy still in her arms, and looked for the others, as her hands were too full to ring the bell. Maeve, just behind her, did the honours, and the small group waited for the door to open.

#174: Author: Sarah_K, Location: St Albans

Posted: Tue Feb 17, 2004 12:32 am

I'm glad Tom's there too, very sensible girl. I hope Peg's alright when she gets warmed up (assuming the vicarage let them in I suppose but I can't see them not)

#175: Author: Ellie, Location: Lincolnshire

Posted: Tue Feb 17, 2004 1:36 am

I'm glad they've reached a safe haven, provided of course they haven't stumbled upon an abandoned ghost village, thank goodness Tom is so sensible though, I dread to think what would have happened if they'd been alone.

#176: Author: KB, Location: Melbourne, Australia

Posted: Tue Feb 17, 2004 7:46 am

For a moment, I wondered if this was an alternative way for Peggy to meet Giles. Sorry about that. Embarassed

Great stuff, Lulie! I love the way Tom's taken charge!

#177: Author: Susan, Location: Carlisle

Posted: Tue Feb 17, 2004 2:53 pm

Thank you Lulie - lots of lovely story to catch up on. Good old Tom!

Thank you for the care package Chelsea. Looking forward to tasting some if it.

#178: Author: Vikki, Location: Possibly in hell! It's certainly hot enough.......

Posted: Tue Feb 17, 2004 7:33 pm

Oooh! thanbk you Lulie!! Lots of story!!!

#179: Author: Chelsea, Location: Your Imagination

Posted: Tue Feb 17, 2004 9:26 pm

*is glad that Tom is there to take control.

*hoping that they find nice people at the Vicarage.

#180: Author: PatMac, Location: Yorkshire England

Posted: Tue Feb 17, 2004 10:41 pm

I'm so glad they are safe. Hope Peggy will recover quickly.

*files nails to a nice shape again*

#181: Author: Lulie, Location: Middlesbrough

Posted: Tue Feb 17, 2004 10:52 pm

Here's more. Hope you enjoy it!

It seemed to take ages before footsteps were heard on the other side of the door and a heavy creaking signalled its opening. ‘Oh good gracious me!’ exclaimed the Vicar’s wife as she beheld the dripping party on her doorstep. Mollie, as the eldest of the party, and the one who was responsible for the girls, stepped forward. ‘I’m terribly sorry to bother you, but may we use your telephone? We were out walking when….’
‘Of course, come in. Isn’t it terrible when these mists come out of nowhere. You poor things, you’re drenched,’ The Vicar’s wife stood back to allow them all in. She let out a horrified exclamation when she saw Tom carrying Peggy, who had not come out of her stupor. Leaning backwards she rang a bell and while she was waiting for it to be answered she helped everybody off with their wet coats, including Peggy, who had been laid down on a hard wooden settle that had various boots stored underneath it. A maid soon appeared in response to the bell, her smile vanishing as she beheld the sodden party. ‘Ah, Ruth, do go and fill the bath in the small bathroom, and make sure that there are plenty of hot towels, please. And ask Belle to make cocoa for seven and bring it to the sitting room.’
Ruth went off to do her mistress’s bidding, and the lady carried on talking all the time she was rubbing Peggy’s hair and skin dry with a towel she had produced from apparently nowhere. ‘How terribly remiss of me, I haven’t introduced myself. I’m Celia Jordan, wife of the Rector here. I’m afraid my husband has had to go to one of the remoter farms and has telephoned to say he won’t attempt to be back until the mist lifts a bit,’
‘I’m Mollie Bettany, and these are my daughters Peggy, Bride and Maeve; and their friends Tom Gay, Elfie Woodward and Primrose Day. We’re from the Quadrant, over the other side of the moor. We were caught while out walking on the moor, and it was nearer to come here than it was to try and get home.’
‘Of course, you wanted to use the telephone!’ Mrs Jordan handed the towel to Primrose and motioned her to carry on rubbing while she ushered Mollie over to where the telephone stood on a little table. ‘Come on, girls, you must be frozen. Come through to the sitting room, there’s a lovely fire going,’
Ruth re-appeared at that point, so Mrs Jordan waved the girls through in the direction of the sitting room, and then turned to ask Tom’s assistance in helping her to get Peggy upstairs. Mollie, once she had finished trying to explain to Dick just where they were and what had happened, forgot her manners and followed after them. Tom came down to join the others once Mollie had arrived at her daughter’s side. ‘How’s Peggy?’ asked Bride, anxiously, as she moved up on the sofa nearest to the fire.
‘I don’t know. She’s just had a boiling hot bath and Mrs Jordan has wrapped her in one of Reverend Jordan’s pyjama tops. He must be a big man, cos it almost drowns Peggy. Anyway, she’s in bed and Mrs Bettany’s with her. She did wake up, but has gone back to sleep. Mrs Jordan was on about calling the doctor out, just to make sure she hasn’t taken any harm, but I don’t know if she’s done it. Anyway, we’re to stay here until either the Rev. Jordan gets back and can take us home, or until Mr Bettany can get here. It all depends on the mist,’
The cocoa arrived just as Tom had finished speaking, accompanied by generous sandwiches which were like nectar to the hungry girls. They fell on them like wolves, only stopping when Maeve said, ‘I say, oughtn’t we to save some for Mummy and Peggy?’
‘Don’t worry, my dear, I’ve sent some upstairs. All those are for you five so enjoy them. Which of you is Bride?’ Mrs Jordan appeared in the doorway.
‘Me,’ said Bride, standing up.
‘Your mother asks if you can go upstairs when you’ve finished your cocoa, and she said not to hurry, there’s nothing to be anxious about.’ She smiled at the worried girls, and went off to some business of her own, leaving them to finish their meal.

#182: Author: Vikki, Location: Possibly in hell! It's certainly hot enough.......

Posted: Tue Feb 17, 2004 11:28 pm

Thanks Lulie!!! Glad they're safe now!!

#183: Author: Sarah_K, Location: St Albans

Posted: Wed Feb 18, 2004 12:01 am

Nice to see them safe and warm before I go off to bed! Thanks Lulie Kiss

#184: Author: Lulie, Location: Middlesbrough

Posted: Wed Feb 18, 2004 12:01 am

Vikki wrote:

Thanks Lulie!!! Glad they're safe now!!

Ah, but are they Question

I'm off to bed now, I have an exciting day tomorrow. Nighty night, sleep tight ZZZZ

#185: Author: Rosie, Location: Huntingdonshire

Posted: Wed Feb 18, 2004 12:06 am

Well of all the.... That was a deliberate attempt to tease!!! Not that it worked, obviously but.

#186: Author: Sarah_K, Location: St Albans

Posted: Wed Feb 18, 2004 12:13 am

I knew I should have gone to bed without checking again Evil or Very Mad

That's just not nice Lulie Evil or Very Mad

#187: Author: Vikki, Location: Possibly in hell! It's certainly hot enough.......

Posted: Wed Feb 18, 2004 12:14 am

Lulie!! You little horror!!!

#188: Author: Polly, Location: Essex

Posted: Wed Feb 18, 2004 12:35 am

Thanx Lulie! But please don;t wait too long before posting more, especially after sticking us near a cliff-edge!!! HelpMe

#189: Author: Susan, Location: Carlisle

Posted: Wed Feb 18, 2004 1:33 am

Lulie I hope they are all safe. Thank you for the post though.

ETA This is my 1000th post on this board!

#190: Author: Chelsea, Location: Your Imagination

Posted: Wed Feb 18, 2004 2:48 am

Arghh...I was going to post thanking Lulie for getting everyone to a nice safe place but now....

Please may we have some more.

#191: Author: Ellie, Location: Lincolnshire

Posted: Wed Feb 18, 2004 3:38 am

Thanks Lulie, for at least supplying them with warmth and food, but surely they must be safe, unless this Jordan woman is a mad axe murderer who has despacthed the vicar and his family and is now looking forward to chopping up yet more victims who have obligingly walked into her lair.....

#192: Author: KB, Location: Melbourne, Australia

Posted: Wed Feb 18, 2004 7:37 am

*not sure whether to thank Lulie or throttle her*

#193: Author: Lulie, Location: Middlesbrough

Posted: Wed Feb 18, 2004 10:11 am

*smiles sweetly and goes off to meet Catherine*

#194: Author: Rosie, Location: Huntingdonshire

Posted: Wed Feb 18, 2004 11:36 am

*hunts around for large brick, before resting eyes upon tray on cacti plants nearby...*

#195: Author: PatMac, Location: Yorkshire England

Posted: Wed Feb 18, 2004 1:23 pm

I hope Peggy is alright. I think that is what Lulie was hinting but .....

#196: Author: KB, Location: Melbourne, Australia

Posted: Wed Feb 18, 2004 2:32 pm

Rosie wrote:

*hunts around for large brick, before resting eyes upon tray on cacti plants nearby...*

*promises to support Rosie in any violent behaviour she might be considering*

#197: Author: Chelsea, Location: Your Imagination

Posted: Wed Feb 18, 2004 4:08 pm

*pledges to support her HM - after all I am a prefect, I couldn't do anything else.

#198: Author: KB, Location: Melbourne, Australia

Posted: Wed Feb 18, 2004 4:08 pm

*hopes Lulie pays heed*

#199: Author: Vikki, Location: Possibly in hell! It's certainly hot enough.......

Posted: Wed Feb 18, 2004 6:12 pm

Ooh! Well done Sue!!!

#200: Author: Catherine_B, Location: Oxford, UK

Posted: Wed Feb 18, 2004 7:56 pm